Intermediate rose plant named ‘Meizuleros’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the intermediate Class is provided which abundantly forms on a substantially continuous basis attractive red-purple blossoms that are lighter in coloration on the upper surface of the petals than on the under surface. The growth habit is vigorous and erect. Attractive medium green semi-glossy foliage is formed that contrast nicely with the blossoms coloration. Tolerance to diseases is good particularly with respect to Oidium. The new variety forces well under greenhouse growing conditions and is well suited for cut flower production under such conditions.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Intermediate RosePlant.

Varietal denomination: cv. ‘Meizuleros’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant was created by artificialpollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had beenstudied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the newvariety was the ‘Olijplam’ variety (non-patented in the United States).The male parent is the product of the cross of the ‘Korikis’ variety(non-patented in the United States) and the ‘Olytel’ variety (U.S. PlantPat. No. 8,862). The parentage of the new variety can be summarized asfollows:‘Olijplam’×(‘Korikis’×‘Olytel’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the intermediate rose plant of the present inventionpossesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) exhibits a vigorous and erect growth habit,    -   (b) forms in abundance on a substantially continuous basis        attractive red-purple blossoms that are lighter in coloration on        the upper surface of the petals than on the under surface,    -   (c) forms attractive medium green semi-glossy foliage that        contrasts well with the blossom coloration, and    -   (d) is particularly well suited for cut flower production under        greenhouse growing conditions.

The tolerance to diseases is good particularly with respect to Oidium.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom its parental varieties. More specifically, the ‘Olijplam’ varietydisplays considerably more thorns, the blossoms of the ‘Korikis’ varietyare a lighter pink, and the blossoms of the ‘Olytel’ variety are creammargined with pink in coloration.

The new variety performs well under greenhouse growing conditions whileproducing cut flowers.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and cuttage. Asexualpropagation by the above-mentioned techniques in France has shown thatthe characteristics of the new variety are stable and are strictlytransmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation toanother.

The new variety has been named the ‘Meizuleros’ variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were two years of age and were observed duringSeptember while budded on Rosa indica major understock and growingoutdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimetersare indicated at the bottom of the photograph.

FIG. 1 — illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2 — illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening ofthe sepals;

FIG. 3 — illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4 — illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5 — illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6 — illustrates a specimen of an open flower — plan view — obverse;

FIG. 7 — illustrates a specimen of an open flower — plan view — reverse;

FIG. 8 — illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower — plan view —obverse;

FIG. 9 — illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower — plan view —reverse;

FIG. 10 — illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11 — illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12 — illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13 — illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14 — illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets — planview — upper surface; and

FIG. 15 — illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets — planview — under surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of the RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based onthe observation of two year-old plants during September while budded onRosa indica major understock and growing under greenhouse conditions atLe Cannet des Maures, Var, France.

-   Class: Intermediate.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—When pruned to a height of 0.85 cm, floral stems            having lengths of approximately 50 to 70 cm commonly are            produced.        -   Habit.—Erect.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—Young stems: near Green Group 138A. Adult wood: near            Green Group 137A.        -   Thorns.—Configuration: rather straight, very longish            pointed, curved downwards on the upper surface, and very            concave on the under surface. Size: approximately 0.8 cm in            length on average with an ovate base on young stems, and            approximately 1 cm in length on average with an ovate base            on adult stems. Quantity: approximately 8 on average over a            young stem length of 10 cm, and approximately 4 on average            over an adult stem length of 10 cm. Color: near Yellow-Green            Group 144B on young stems, and near Greyed-Orange Group 165A            and 165B on adult stems.        -   Prickles.—Size: approximately 0.4 cm in length on average            with an ovate base. Quantity: approximately 4 on average            over a stem length of 10 cm-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—Smooth, adnate, pectinate, narrow. Approximately            1.1 cm in length on average, approximately 0.1 cm in width            on average, and near Yellow-Green Group 146B on the upper            and under surfaces.        -   Petioles.—Upper surface: near Green-Group 137B. Under            surface: near Green Group 137C. Length: approximately 2 cm            on average.        -   Rachis.—Upper surface: near Green Group 137B. Under surface:            near Green Group 137C.        -   Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. Shape: elliptic            with a pointed tip and a rounded base. Serration: single and            fine (as illustrated). Texture: firm, and semi-glossy.            General appearance: dense and medium green. Size: terminal            leaflets commonly measure approximately 6 cm in length, and            approximately 4 cm in width. Color (young foliage): upper            surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147A suffused with            Greyed-Red Group 178A. Under surface: near Yellow-Green            Group 147B suffused with Greyed-Red Group 178A. Color (adult            foliage): upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147A. Under            surface: near Yellow Green Group 147B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly one flower per stem.        -   Peduncle.—Glandular, near Yellow-Green Group 144A in            coloration, approximately 3.3 cm in length on average, and            approximately 0.4 cm in diameter on average.        -   Sepals.—Upper surface: tomentose, and near Green Group 138B            in coloration. Under surface: glandular, and near            Yellow-Green Group 144A in coloration. Length: approximately            3.2 cm on average. Width: approximately 0.9 cm on average.            Shape: longish pointed and narrow. Extensions: commonly            three sepals possess very weak extensions and two sepals            commonly possess no extensions.        -   Buds.—Shape: conical. Size: medium. Length: approximately            3.2 cm on average. Width: approximately 2 cm on average.            Color as the calyx breaks: upper surface: near Red-Purple            Group 63B and 63C and amply suffused with Red-Purple Group            63A and margined with Red Group 53B. Under surface: near Red            Group 53A and 53B.        -   Flower.—Shape: cup-shaped. Diameter: approximately 7 cm on            average when open. Color (in the course of opening): upper            surface: near Red-Purple Group 63C and amply suffused with            Red-Purple Group 63B and margined with Red-Purple Group 63A.            Under surface: Near Red Group 53B and 53C. Color (when            open): Upper surface: Near Red-Purple Group 65C and amply            suffused with Red-Purple Group 63B and 63C. Under surface:            near Red Group 53D and amply suffused with Red-Purple Group            63A. Basal color spot: absent on both surfaces. Color            stability: slight lightening in coloration on the upper            surface at the end of blooming. Lasting quality: very long            and commonly approximately 20 to 21 days on average on the            plant and approximately 15 to 18 days on average when out            and placed in a vase. Petal number: commonly approximately            40 on average under normal growing conditions. Petal            arrangement: imbricated. Petaloids: none observed. Petal            shape: obtuse base, rounded tip, approximately 4.1 cm in            length on average, and approximately 4 cm in width on            average. Petal texture: consistent. Petal drop: good, the            petals commonly detach cleanly before drying. Fragrance:            none. Stamen number approximately 104 on average. Anthers:            near Yellow-Orange Group 21C in coloration, approximately 3            mm in size, and regularly arranged around the styles.            Filaments: near Red Group 56D in coloration, and            approximately 0.7 cm in length. Pistils: approximately 171            on average. Stigmas: near Red Group 47B in coloration, and            approximately 0.1 cm in size on average. Styles: near            Yellow-Orange Group 14C in coloration, and the length is            approximately 0.6 cm on average. Hips: none observed to date            under greenhouse growing conditions.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Very vigorous.        -   Blooming.—Medium season, very abundant and substantially            continuous.        -   Tolerance to diseases.—Good especially with respect to            Oidium.        -   Aptitude to forcing.—Excellent.

1. A new and distinct intermediate rose plant which exhibits thefollowing combination of characteristics: (a) a vigorous and erectgrowth habit, (b) forms in abundance on a substantially continuous basisattractive red-purple blossoms that are lighter in coloration on theupper surface of the petals than on the under surface, (c) formsattractive medium green semi-glossy foliage that contrasts well with theblossom coloration, and (d) is particularly well suited for cut flowerproduction under greenhouse growing conditions; substantially asillustrated and described.